The BDS Smokescreen

It's remarkable that the world needed a 29-year-old movie star to state the obvious: This is modern anti-Semitism.

The people who defame Israel and wish to undermine its status in the world are not anti-Semites – or so they will tell you, every chance they get. Their denial of anti-Semitism is essential to their moral position. In their own view they are good progressives, therefore absolutely innocent of racial or religious discrimination. Their propaganda campaign, which they hope eventually will escalate into economic warfare, is intended merely to reshape Israel’s policies. What they oppose, they want to assure us, is Israel’s position in the West Bank. Their increasingly loud and self-confident BDS movement (Boycott, Divest, Sanction) is not, as they tell it, a struggle against the Jews. They simply want to bring Israel into line with enlightened leftist opinion in Europe, the U.S. and Canada.

Scarlett Johansson, the film star, found herself the enemy of BDS in January, when she appeared in advertisements for SodaStream, an Israeli home carbonation device that eliminates cans and bottles. SodaStream’s offence is to have one of its factories in the West Bank, where it employs Palestinians who might otherwise have no work at all.

BDS adherents began denouncing Johansson as “the new face of apartheid.” They love applying that South African term to Israel, no matter how unjustified it is. Oxfam, for which Johansson had served as an ambassador in past years, decided to accept her resignation. Oxfam opposes all trade with Israeli settlements and has no place for dissenters among its associates. Johansson said she and Oxfam “have a fundamental difference of opinion in regards to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.” Oxfam likes BDS. She doesn’t. She says she researched SodaStream and found it an ethical operation.

Like the great majority of Americans in the film industry, Johansson is a liberal Democrat. She took part in the last three presidential elections and raised money for Barack Obama. Unlike many who fall into that category, she also thinks for herself.

The May issue of Vanity Fair carries a cover story about Johansson. The author of the piece, Lili Anolik, asked her how she explains why she has been viciously criticized for the SodaStream ads. Johansson answered, “There’s a lot of anti-Semitism out there.”

That line has been widely quoted, and for good reason. It’s a rare example of candor from someone in her position. Johansson, at least in this instance, doesn’t hesitate to call things by their name.

Perhaps her reaction owes something to her background. Vanity Fair classifies her as “that ultimate New York hybrid of half Jewish, half not.” Her mother, Melanie Sloan, a movie producer, is a Jew whose family came from Russia.

But, Jewish or not, Johansson’s ethnicity did not necessarily dictate her attitude to BDS. There are Jews who follow the BDS line, just as there are anti-Semitic Jews. A few decades ago the late Barbara Frum, patiently trying to explain some contentious point to me, said, “Bob, I think if you look around you’ll find quite a few anti-Semitic Jews.” She lived in a more innocent time and probably never imagined that they would find a vast international movement they could join.

They’re not hoping for an Israel willing to hand over the West Bank. They’re working for a day when Israel will be gone forever.

My own belief is that the BDS people and their fellow travelers, whatever their background, are anti-Semites. They do all they can to stigmatize the Jewish state and reduce its ability to defend itself. They know that Israel is surrounded by neighbors who will never recognize its existence, much less sign a treaty developed in a “peace process” quarterbacked by Washington. The Palestinians and the Arab states who claim to support them are not hoping for a more generous Israel or a BDS-approved Israel or an Israel willing to hand over the West Bank. They are working for a day when Israel will be gone forever.

In order to satisfy this generation’s anti-Semites, Israel must meet standards that no other country in the world has ever met or ever will. At the United Nations Israel is condemned more often than all other countries combined.

It is, of course, an imperfect democracy, like Canada and all other free countries, and its human rights record could certainly be improved. But its treatment of Palestinians has never been even remotely comparable to China’s oppression of Tibetans or Saudi Arabia’s treatment of women, two among many outrageous practices that apparently never trouble the students who direct their anger at Israel.

In devising their purposes the BDS campaigners have never shown even the beginning of a sense of proportion. It’s remarkable that the world needs a 29-year-old movie star to point this out.

PS 1: I humbly suggest that this web site link to the web sites shown above, and write articles about the organizations behind them.

PS 2: Since Orthodox Jews are increasing as a percentage of American Jews, they should also increase their participation in pro-Israel organizations, to compensate for the declining numbers of non-Orthodox Jews.

(11)
Nancy,
May 1, 2014 10:32 AM

The words liberal and conservative are not swear words. One can have a liberal view about one topic and a conservative view about another one. As an avid reader, I pride myself on the fact that I read and listen to DIFFERENT points of view. If I only listened to people who agree with my beliefs, I would never learn anything new. Btw--I have felt this way since I was younger than Scarlet Johannsen is now!

(10)
David Howard,
April 30, 2014 7:57 AM

BDS IS anti - Semitism pure and simple.

Why is there no BDS movement against Saudi Arabia for brutality against women? Where are the liberals in Syria? Their leader has killed over 100,000 of their own people, and the countries in Africa that commit genocide?

I am old enough to have learned that when dealing with the Jewish state or Jews in general, there is no such thing as being even handed.

(9)
Antonio Perez,
April 28, 2014 5:06 PM

The BDS Smokescreen

BDS is fascism. Not all Muslims and not all Palestinians are anti-Jewish and anti-Israel, only the fascist ones. Their words and actions speak for themselves.

(8)
Anonymous,
April 28, 2014 12:59 AM

The world has gone mad. With all the bloodshed occurring amongst Israel's neighbors, to have the world single out Israel as a pariah nation, is an abomination. The article and Ms Johansson truly point out the hypocrisy of the BDS movement. Finally a fresh voice states the obvious as well as the truth. BDS is anti-semitism wearing a new set of clothes.

(7)
Alan Acker,
April 27, 2014 8:11 PM

Point of Information

Dear Mr. Fulford: I believe your emotions got the better of you when you added the sentence, "Unlike many [liberal democrats] who fall into that category, she also thinks for herself." Of all people, we should be sensitive to callous, over broad generalizations. As a liberal Jew who agrees with your article, I certainly like to believe that I, too, and many other liberal Jews, think for ourselves. I don't believe you would find acceptable the contrary sentiment. Respectfully, Alan Acker

IrisB,
April 30, 2014 6:14 AM

Well said.

Mr Acker, thank you for your post. I was offended by the author's remark.

(6)
Semyon,
April 27, 2014 6:33 PM

BDS is the new face of anti-Semitism

(5)
Yisroel P,
April 27, 2014 6:29 PM

Yes, but...

Ms. Johansson’s courage and forthrightness are commendable and uplifting. Yet, as noted, the celebrity has supported liberal causes and President Obama’s election. Prime Minister Netanyahu is reported to have told an audience the other day that the best way for us, in the U.S., to support Israel is to act to keep America strong. Because a strong America is an America that is helpful to the Israeli cause. But liberalism, of the kind that President Obama practices in particular, is predicated on the platform that the U.S. should relent on its position of strength. The strategy adopted is, at once, internal and external. Internally, it seeks to weaken us economically by stressing equality of outcome, at the expense of equal opportunity. The economic impact of this policy is deleterious and strikes a blow to our internal prosperity. The other source of weakness is external. It involves adopting a foreign policy that has us leading from behind, as it is often put. Taken together, these two political stances contrive to eviscerate our strength as a nation. And from a position of weakness, we are far less able to voice the values that we have traditionally espoused. It is, however, those values that give impetus to the United States’ longstanding support of Israel.

(4)
Chavie,
April 27, 2014 5:23 PM

I was also surprised to see that generalization, however, when rereading the paragraph I realized that the author is talking about liberals in the film industry. Many celebrities don't think for themselves and only care about the public's view of them. Kudos to Johansson for being proud of her position and her support of Israel.

Alan Acker,
April 27, 2014 8:14 PM

No Excuse

Even if the sentence was directed to liberals in the film industry, such statements are wrong. Exactly how many celebrities do you know and how have you determined that they do not think for themselves?

(3)
Miriam,
April 24, 2014 1:45 PM

Scarlett Johansson, you're a "kosher" human being!

Rabbi Hutner teaches that a fish is determined kosher (healthy, not wounded) if it can swim against the tide. And that's the sign of a "kosher" human being: one who can stand up for their own convictions regardless of the world around them. I'm proud of you, Scarlett!

(2)
Shimon Lesserson,
April 24, 2014 1:46 AM

Great Article But ....

Great article -well written and should be spread. My complaint is the following line: "It is, of course, an imperfect democracy, like Canada and all other free countries, and its human rights record could certainly be improved."

That caveat which should go without saying, DOES go without saying when an article seeks to defend the USA, Canada or any other moral country in the world.

But even our defenders feel obliged to any any positive article about Israel with some line like that. If it's true that it goes without saying for any other Western democracy, it's just as true for Israel.

Mike Moore,
April 27, 2014 5:01 PM

We don't need to say Israel is flawed

I agree Shimon. In my public talks in defence of Israel I used to add something like: 'I'm not saying Israel is perfect.' But I never heard apologists for the Palestinians say that the the people they represented were in any way flawed. So until I hear an apologist for the Palestinian cause admit that Israel's enemies are imperfect, I feel under no obligation to state what should be self-evident: i,e, that all humans, all nations and all societies are imperfect..

(1)
Nancy,
April 23, 2014 7:02 PM

This was a very well written article for the most part. However, I was very offended when you said that Democrats and liberals do not think for themselves. If I wrote an article and said that about Republicans I bet you would be as angry as I am now. You owe your readers an apology for the stereotype.

At one point in my life I bought into a liberal point of view of reality, hook, line and sinker and I remember being very upset if any facts were brought against my position. It was NOT just me, it was the prevailing point of view of certain sectors in America. I remember liberalism then as a blind, religious faith. YOU may be the exception to what I think is the majority.

Anonymous,
April 30, 2014 6:20 AM

Hardly the case.

Nancy is NOT the exception to the rule. I shudder when I hear the rhetoric spewed from the Right, because rarely do I hear any thought given by those who speak.

We have a canistel (or eggfruit) tree our backyard which we’d like to get rid of. We do not eat its fruit, and the fruit and leaves make a constant mess. I haven’t found anyone who is interested in its fruit – even to take it from us for free. I would like to replace it with an orange tree (we live in Miami). Is there any problem doing so?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

The Torah actually writes specifically that we may not cut down fruit trees (Deuteronomy 20:19-20). From this the Sages learn a more general principle that one may not purposelessly waste or destroy anything of value – food, good utensils, clothes, etc. (see e.g. Talmud Baba Kama 91b, Shabbat 140b).

The Talmud (Baba Kama 91-92) distinguishes that whenever there is a legitimate reason, one may cut down a fruit tree – if it damages other trees or plants, if it’s not productive and not worth its upkeep, if it’s more valuable for the wood, etc. The commentators include in this dispensation when ones needs the space the tree is growing on (Rosh Baba Kama 8:15).

There is, however, a frightening line in the Talmud there which makes people much more hesitant to rely on the above leniency. Rabbi Chanina stated that his son died young as a punishment for his cutting a fig tree before its time. Thus apart from the legal issue of destroying a productive tree, this law appears to carry with it severe Divine retribution.

Most authorities explain that this punishment is incurred only if a person cuts down a fruit tree without legitimate reason, but there is a minority opinion that it is incurred even if the tree is cut with good reason.

As a result, even in cases where a legitimate reason applies, people generally take an extra precaution of first selling the tree to a non-Jew, and having a non-Jew do the actual cutting. (The entire prohibition does not apply to non-Jews.) Your case is also better in that you are cutting one fruit tree to plant another, more productive one. Even with all of this, it’s preferable, if possible, to leave a part of the original tree intact.

In 1942, Hitler devised a plan for a Museum of Judaism, to remember the dead Jewish religion, culture and people. Millions of Jewish treasures -- Torah scrolls, ritual objects, books and art -- were looted by the Nazis and taken to warehouses. In Czechoslovakia, the objects were taken to the Jewish Museum in Prague, where the Jews themselves were forced to sort, label, and pack the items for use in the Nazi's future museum. After the war, many of these items were recovered, including thousands of Torah scrolls and nearly one million books. These were distributed to Jewish communities worldwide, as a living testimony to the indestructibility of the Jewish people.

One who humiliates another person in public ... even though he may be a scholar and may have done many good deeds, nevertheless loses his portion in the eternal world (Ethics of the Fathers 3:15).

Imagine a situation: you have a fine home, a well-paying job, a comfortable car, and a substantial retirement annuity. If you do a single thoughtless act, you will lose everything you have worked to achieve: home, job, car, and savings. What kind of precautions would you take to avoid even the remotest possibility of incurring such a disaster? Without doubt, you would develop an elaborate system of defenses to assure that this event would never occur.

The Talmud tells us that everything we have worked for during our entire lives can be forfeited in one brief moment of inconsideration: we embarrass another person in public. Perhaps we may say something insulting or make a demeaning gesture. Regardless of how it occurs, the Talmud states that if we cause another person to turn pale because of being humiliated in public, we have committed the equivalent of bloodshed.

Still, we allow our tongues to wag so easily. If we give serious thought to the words of the Talmud, we would exercise the utmost caution in public and be extremely sensitive to other people's feelings, lest an unkind word or degrading gesture deprive us of all our spiritual merits.

Today I shall...

try to be alert and sensitive to other people's feelings and take utmost caution not to cause anyone to feel humiliated.

With stories and insights,
Rabbi Twerski's new book Twerski on Machzor makes Rosh Hashanah prayers more meaningful. Click here to order...